Spark-plug transformer



Nov. 2o, 192s. 1,691,996

A. S. SIMSACK SPARK PLUG TRANSFORMER Filed Feb. 2l, 1927 Inventor @www 0 ment and association I o f elongated casing 1 '55 llange 3 and Patented Nov. I 20, 192`8.

I UNITED STATES l l y 1,691,996 PATENT OFFICE.

An'ron's. suisses, or rn-rrtannrnm, rEnNsYLvANrA, AssIeNon or ONE-TRIBUTO jnoanrs Arr, or PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvANm.

SPARK-PLUG ,-TnANsFonMER.

Application mea- February 2i, 15527. serial No. 169,912.

The present invention is directed to a newautomotive accessory in the form of an electrical contrivance, adapted 'for association with the ordinary internal combustion'engine 5 spark plug, and as thetitle implies, the device relates more particularly to acurrent transformer for ldisposition between the wire terminal and the binding post of the spark` 'Ixzhe improvement is characterized by the exceptional simplicity of construction and convenience of arrangement-of parts, and is advantageous in that it is in the form of an attachment which may be connected with the ordinary spark plug now marketed andthe bared core of the wire terminal, in order to transform the electrical current before it passes through the spark plug.

I aim particularly to provide a structure 0f this kind which is such as to transform the direct current now used to a highfrequency current, such as will produce ahigh frequency electric spark for release on the interior 'of the cylinder. Y I

Particularly, do I wish to point out that the transformation ofthe current which takes] place`when acted upon `by the vspecial con` trivance is'desirable because of the fact that it 'produces a different character of spark be- .3c tween the main and secondary electrodes, the

spark .being in dthe form of a. brilliant-*1n- 4 tense dash as.v distinguished from a short transient spark such as ordinarily takes place.

This achievement', itis believed, will prevent the plugsfrom becoming fouled, .y or shortcircuited by oil and carbon deposits, particularly because the hot spark will burn and loosenthe deposits. Y l Y The construction as well as the arrangeof' partswill become more readily apparent fromv the following description and drawings. i

Fig.I 'l is a central longitudinal section 45 Athrough atransformer and wire terminal constructed in accordance with the invent-ion..

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,'and

Fig. 3 is a .tran'sverse' cross section. y

In carrying out the invention, I employ an fof appropriate insulation material.4 This isof tubular cross section and preferably composed of hard rubber.

Fitted into one end ofthe casing is a metal plug 2 (preferably brass), having a stop constructed' as at 4 to maintain the retainer 5 in place. This retainer includes a fork 6 ofa construction to tit upon the ordinary binding pest of a conventionaltype of spark plug. This plug 2 is knurled on its exterior or corrugated in any suitable manner to facilitate maintenance when assembled' .plug is ofbras's and is knurled on its exterior to'vhold it fiilmly in place. In fact, these plugs are so tightly fitted in the casing that they provide a hermetic seal. Incidentally, it will be noticed that the plug 7 carries central outstanding screw threaded pointed extension 9 which serves in a manner to be described more indetail at a later point.

At this time, I would direct attention to the fact that with this arrangement, a vacuum chamber is formed within the casing, and. the electrical transforming means islocated in this vacuum chamber. The transforming means comprisesa central axially 'alined rod 10 of appropriate insulation material which has its opposite pointed ends fitted into correspondingly shaped sockets,on the inner ends of. the plugs 2 and 7.

Mounted on th's rod, are metal disks 11 of appropriate thickness and diameter. Interposed between each pair of disks is an insulating washer 12 which operates as la spacer, the' washer being ofa diameter less than the disks. Thev disks in turn are of a diameter less than the internal diameter of the cham. ber, in order to rovide .sparking space 13, around the perip eral portions of the disk. It will be noticed that a coiled spring 14 surrounds one end portion of the rod, bears against an adjacent disk and against the plug ly in place, yet not too tightly.l

The spring has the additional function of '7; Y -This spring provides proper tension upon the disks and washers and holds them secure-l an electric coil. The reference character 15 designates an ordinary electrical conductor having`a bared core 16 at'one end. y The casing of this condlictor lits into a socket formed in the coupling 17. The inner end of this socket is conical as at 18 and merges linto a central opening and a screw threaded ortion formed in the neck 1*.1.A 'The aforesai ointed extension 9 threads intothis necv Yand bindsgthe strands of the core tightly against'.A

Vthe wall of the opening in'order to hold the conductor in place.

Inpractice, it is obvious that the fork 6 on-l the right hand end of the transformer is connected to the binding post of an ordinary spark plug in the customary manner and that the conductor is cou led with the transformer in the manner siiown and described. Then, the current passing from the conductor into the plug is transformed through the action of the multiplicity of disks. The current *is intensiied and amplified and literall changed from a direct current Iinto a hig frequency current.v The lat-ter produces'the desirable type of spark which, as before indicated, resembles a rather close prolonged flash, instead of the short jumping spark ordinarily provided.

' l It follows that with this arrangement there' will be no rpre-ignition nor after-ignition for the flash will last sufficiently long to cause the vvcylinder to fire at the proper instant.

It is believed that when t-he description is considered carefully 'in connection with'the drawing, a clear understanding of the construction and operation and advantages of the `invention will be had. In view of'this, a mere len h y descriptionis thought runnecessary.

11e I have described and-shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what Asa new product of manufacture, a transformer attachment for ordinary spark plugs, comprising an elongated tubular casing of 1nsulation material, plugs tted into the oppoi site open'ends of the casing, said plugs being of electricity conducting material, `andan axially alined rod of insulation material located centrally on the interior of the casing and having its opposite ends connected with said plugs, a set of metallic rings assembled upon said rods, a ring on one end of said set'being in' electrical connection with t-he adjacent one of said plugs, a coiled spring surrounding the rod at the opposite end and engaging the ad* jacent rings and adjacent plugs, and insula tion washers surrounding the rod and interposed between the rings for spacing the rings apart, to provide spark gaps between the pe- 

